• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.451-457
• /
• 2010

It is well known that most of the beverages on sale contain acid. Among these beverages, one of the most typically purchased products is Coca-Cola ($Coke^{(R)}$), which affects the demineralization of the tooth enamel surface. However other beverages also affect the erosion of the tooth enamel surface. Therefore, the aim of this study was to observe the influence that acid containing beverages have upon the tooth enamel surface. In this study, 30 enamel specimens were obtained from extracted maxillary third molars without cracks. The study measured the pH concentrations and the Ca and P concentration levels of the acidic beverages. The control without exposure was kept in distilled water, and each enamel specimen was stored for 30-min, 60-min, and 120-min. The erosion effect of the enamel surface was observed by SEM. The results obtained from this study can be summarized as follows: 1. The pH concentration of acidic beverages, without milk, was 3.105 on average. The beverages eroded the enamel surface and the erosion degree was determined by the pH concentration of beverages. 2. The erosion degree significantly increased by as the exposure time increased. The difference in the erosion degree between the 30-min group and the 60-min and the 120-min group was significant, but the erosion degree of the 120-min group was significantly less than that of the initial group. 3. When compared with the beverages containing similar pH concentrations, the demineralization degree of the beverages containing higher concentrations of Ca and P was lower.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.443-450
• /
• 2012

Recently, NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4)-mediated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was proposed to accelerate adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cell. We have previously shown that Cheonnyuncho (Opuntia humifusa) extract significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation via downregulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) gene expression. In this study, we focused on the molecular mechanism(s) of NOX4, G6PDH (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and antioxidant enzymes in anti-oxidative activities of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results indicate that Cheonnyuncho extracts markedly inhibits ROS production during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Cheonnyuncho extracts suppressed the mRNA expression of the pro-oxidant enzyme such as NOX4 and the NADPH-producing G6PDH enzyme. In addition, treatment with Cheonnyuncho extract was found to upregulate mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes such as Mn-SOD (manganese-superoxide dismutase), Cu/Zn-SOD (copper/zinc-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathion reductase (GR), and catalase, all of which are important for endogenous antioxidant responses. These data suggest that Cheonnyuncho extract may be effective in preventing the rise of oxidative stress during adipocyte differentiation through mechanism(s) that involves direct down regulation of NOX4 and G6PDH gene expression or via upregulation of endogenous antioxidant responses.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.29-44
• /
• 1999

Vegetation structure and distribution of the vascular hydrophytes and hygrophytes, and the growth pattern, standing crop and amounts of nutrient uptake by Salix species were investigated in the upper stream wetlands of the Namgang-Dam, Chinju-city, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea from April to November in 1997. The flora was composed of 43 hydrophytes and 241 hygrophytes, or total 284 vascular plants. The life forms of the hydrophytes were classified as 27 kinds of emergent plants, 4 floating-leaved plants, 3 free-floating plants, and 9 submersed plants. In the herb layer, the dominant species was Persicaria hyciropiper, and the ranges of the species diversity indices (H'), equitabilities, (J') and community similarity indices (CCs) were 1.59~1.89, 0.87~0.96, and 0.35~0.83, respectively. In the shrub and subtree layers, 17 kinds of Salix species were supposed to the pioneer plants at the early stage of the succession. The number of branches per main stem of Salix species was 5.0. The DBH class-frequency histograms of Salix species were the reverse J type, and the natural regeneration of the Salix community was expected. Basal area of Salix species per square meter was $24.87cm^2$. Volume of Salix species per square meter was $12,008cm^3$ and total phytomass of the Salix species was estimated as 12,894 ton. Biomass distribution of Salix species in the stem, the branch and twig, and the leaf was 64.1%, 28.1%, and 7.8%, respectively. The amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus absorbed by Salix species were 68,022 and 19,823 kg. It was recommended that application and conservation of the wetland and other counterplans are indispensable to reduce the adverse effects of water pollution and to preserve the wetland ecosystem.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.103 no.1
• /
• pp.87-97
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to provide field-based harvesting study information which can be used to select an optimal cable system for certain work conditions on steep grounds (> $20^{\circ}$ ground slope) in Korea. To accomplish this study objectives, we evaluated three cable yarding systems (RME-300T tower-yarder, Chuncheon tower-yarder, FARMI tractor winch) working in typical work conditions for their yarding productivity and operational efficiency. Those yarders are commonly used for removing logs or trees on steep grounds in Korea. Under the same work conditions (average DBH of tree to be cut, 20 cm; yarding distance, 60 m; lateral yarding distance, 10 m; and machine utilization rate, 70%), the average productivities were $33.04m^3$/day, $38.47m^3$/day, and $14.17m^3$/day for RME-300T, Chuncheon tower-yarder, and FARMI, respectively. Our standardized cost comparison study also showed that the yarding cost was highest at $37,835won/m^3$ with FARMI, followed by RME-300T at $25,105won/m^3$ for the same work conditions. We found the lowest yarding cost with the Chuncheon tower-yarder at $20,520won/m^3$ which was resulted primarily from high yarding productivity at the yarding distance (60 m). Our analysis suggested that a small machine such as FARMI could be a low-cost yarding machine option for a cable yarding job with a short yarding distance (40 m or less). The Chuncheon tower-yarder is well suited for a mid-range yarding distance job in Korea, ranged between 40 to 140 m. If yarding distance were longer than 140 m, the RME-300T tower yarder appears to be most cost-effective.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.18-26
• /
• 2008

Behavior and decomposition velocity of pollutants on various forms from domestic sewage in sewage treatment plant were investigated in order to obtain the basic data for improving the removal efficiency of pollutants and to reduce the area in constructed wetland by natural purification method. The removal amounts of BODs and CODs in aerobic bed were significantly higher than those of the other beds. In aerobic bed, the removal amounts of IBOD and ICOD were more than those for SBOD and SCOD, respectively, whereas the removal amounts of BODs and CODs in anoxic and anaerobic beds were little different. The removal amounts of SSs in aerobic bed were also higher than those for the other beds, and the removal amounts of VSS in all beds were more than those for FSS. The removal amounts of DTN and DTP in all beds were more than those for STN and STP, respectively. In addition, the decomposition velocities of TBOD, TCOD and TSS in aerobic bed were 30.79, 17.15 and 29.96 $day^{-1}$. Moreover, the decomposition velocities of BODs, CODs and SSs in aerobic bed were very rapid than those in the other beds. On the other hand, the decomposition velocities of BODs, CODs and SSs in anoxic and anaerobic beds were a little different regardless of the forms of pollutant. The decomposition velocities constants of T-N in aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic beds were 4.78, 0.12 and 0.10 $day^{-1}$, respectively. Moreover, the decomposition velocities constants of T-P in aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic beds were 13.09, 0.12 and 0.13 $day^{-1}$ respectively. The decomposition velocity of T-Ns and T-Ps in aerobic bed were slightly rapid than those in the other beds, whereas the decomposition velocities of T-Ns and T-Ps in anoxic and anaerobic beds were slightly different regardless of the forms of pollutant.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.73-79
• /
• 2009

Purpose : We undertook this study to improve our understanding of the epidemiologic and clinical features of nonpolioenterovirus (NPEV) infections, especially enterovirus 71 (EV71) infections, in Korean children. Methods : Between April and June 2000, NPEVs were detected by RT-PCR and cultures of specimens obtained from patients with aseptic meningitis, acute respiratory disease, and acute gastroenteritis which were associated with enteroviral exanthem and vesicular pharyngeal enanthem, such as herpangina, and hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). EV71 was identified by sequencing the VP1 gene. The clinical and epidemiologic data were analyzed retrospectively after all 87 NPEV-positive patients were divided into 4 groups, according to the clinical manifestations. Sixteen patients who mainly had symptoms of acute gastroenteritis were in group A, 21 patients with symptoms and signs of lower respiratory tract infections were in group B, 42 patients with a HFMD rash only were in group C with or without fever, and 8 patients with aseptic meningitis or paralysis were in group D. For the 11 EV71-positive patients, 1 was in group A, 2 were group B, 7 were in group C, and 1 was in group D. Results : There were 87 NPEV infections, including 11 EV71 infections. The mean age of the patients was 2 years and 11 months, ranging from 1 day to 15 years. There were no fatal cases among a total of 87 NPEV infections and no significant differences in clinical severity between the EV71 and other NPEV infections. Conclusion : NPEV infections in children were common during the 3 months in the spring of 2000. Unlike in southeast Asia, where fatal EV71 infection outbreaks have occurred since 1997, the clinical features of EV71 infection in Korean children are mild.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.559-575
• /
• 2014

Individual investors are increasingly flocking to message boards to seek, clarify, and exchange information. Businesses like Seekingalpha.com and business magazines like Fortune are evaluating, synthesizing, and reporting the comments made on message boards or blogs. In March of 2012, Yahoo! Finance Message Boards recorded 45 million unique visitors per month followed by AOL Money and Finance (19.8 million), and Google Finance (1.6 million) [McIntyre, 2012]. Previous studies in the finance literature suggest that online communities often provide more accurate information than analyst forecasts [Bagnoli et al., 1999; Clarkson et al., 2006]. Some studies empirically show that the volume of posts in online communities have a positive relationship with market activities (e.g., trading volumes) [Antweiler and Frank, 2004; Bagnoli et al., 1999; Das and Chen, 2007; Tumarkin and Whitelaw, 2001]. The findings indicate that information in online communities does impact investors' investment decisions and trading behaviors. However, research explicating the correlation between information on online communities and stock market activities (e.g., trading volume) is still evolving. Thus, it is important to ask whether a volume of posts on online communities influences trading volumes and whether trading volumes also influence these communities. Online stock message boards offer two different types of information, which can be explained using an economic and a psychological perspective. From a purely economic perspective, one would expect that stock message boards would have a beneficial effect, since they provide timely information at a much lower cost [Bagnoli et al., 1999; Clarkson et al., 2006; Birchler and Butler, 2007]. This indicates that information in stock message boards may provide valuable information investors can use to predict stock market activities and thus may use to make better investment decisions. On the other hand, psychological studies have shown that stock message boards may not necessarily make investors more informed. The related literature argues that confirmation bias causes investors to seek other investors with the same opinions on these stock message boards [Chen and Gu, 2009; Park et al., 2013]. For example, investors may want to share their painful investment experiences with others on stock message boards and are relieved to find they are not alone. In this case, the information on these stock message boards mainly reflects past experience or past information and not valuable and predictable information for market activities. This study thus investigates the two roles of stock message boards-providing valuable information to make future investment decisions or sharing past experiences that reflect mainly investors' painful or boastful stories. If stock message boards do provide valuable information for stock investment decisions, then investors will use this information and thereby influence stock market activities (e.g., trading volume). On the contrary, if investors made investment decisions and visit stock message boards later, they will mainly share their past experiences with others. In this case, past activities in the stock market will influence the stock message boards. These arguments indicate that there is a correlation between information posted on stock message boards and stock market activities. The previous literature has examined the impact of stock sentiments or the number of posts on stock market activities (e.g., trading volume, volatility, stock prices). However, the studies related to stock sentiments found it difficult to obtain significant results. It is not easy to identify useful information among the millions of posts, many of which can be just noise. As a result, the overall sentiments of stock message boards often carry little information for future stock movements [Das and Chen, 2001; Antweiler and Frank, 2004]. This study notes that as a dependent variable, trading volume is more reliable for capturing the effect of stock message board activities. The finance literature argues that trading volume is an indicator of stock price movements [Das et al., 2005; Das and Chen, 2007]. In this regard, this study investigates the correlation between a number of posts (information on stock message boards) and trading volume (stock market activity). We collected about 100,000 messages of 40 companies at KOSPI (Korea Composite Stock Price Index) from Paxnet, the most popular Korean online stock message board. The messages we collected were divided into in-trading and after-trading hours to examine the correlation between the numbers of posts and trading volumes in detail. Also we collected the volume of the stock of the 40 companies. The vector regression analysis and the granger causality test, 3SLS analysis were performed on our panel data sets. We found that the number of posts on online stock message boards is positively related to prior stock trade volume. Also, we found that the impact of the number of posts on stock trading volumes is not statistically significant. Also, we empirically showed the correlation between stock trading volumes and the number of posts on stock message boards. The results of this study contribute to the IS and finance literature in that we identified online stock message board's two roles. Also, this study suggests that stock trading managers should carefully monitor information on stock message boards to understand stock market activities in advance.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.62-66
• /
• 2015

Purpose Various database comparison methods(DCM) are used for analyzing functional neuro-imaging. It is possible to statistically evaluate decreased or increased metabolism of abnormal patient's brain by comparing with asymptomatic controls in DCM. And results of DCM are additionally used for easily explaining defect region. The aim of this study was to evaluate usefulness of statistical parametric mapping(SPM) and scenium. Materials and Methods Data of 15 patients($62.02{\pm}15.03year$) underwent $^{18}F-FDG$ brain PET/CT were collected and analyzed. Biograph TruePoint 40 with TrueV, (Siemens) was used as a PET/CT scanner. Scenium(version 4.0) in Syngo.via(version VA30A) and SPM99 were applied for statistical evaluation. Consistency between PET reading and result of DCM were evaluated by 5 nuclear medicine physicians through a questionnaire survey. SUV and SD changes were evaluated by changing iteration, gaussian filter and matrix size in scenium. And average required time for generating result of SPM99 and scenium was compared by 3 medical technologists. Results Consistency from the result of SPM99 and scenium showed 84% and 92.4% compare to PET reading. When iteration 4, FWHM 8 and matrix size 168, SUV and SD were decreased by 0.59%, 8.73%, 4.69%, 20.38% and 0.88%, 8.25% respectively compare to routine parameter(iteration 8, FWHM 2 and matrix size 336) of scenium. Average required time of SPM99 and Scenium took 282 seconds and 116 seconds to generate result. Conclusion Results of SPM99 and Scenium showed high consistency compare to PET reading. Various parameters can be controled by user when using SPM. However, normal database needs to be acquired. And it takes significant amount of time and effort for the first set up. On the other hand, Scenium provides normal database even though modifiable parameters are limited. Therefore, more informations could be provided for brain PET/CT if properly understanding and selecting each DCM.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.57 no.6
• /
• pp.874-882
• /
• 2019

In this study, the gasification characteristics of four types of unused woody biomass and one waste wood in a lab-scale bubbling fluidized bed gasifier (Diameter: 0.11 m, Height: 0.42 m) were investigated. Effect of equivalence ratio (ER) of 0.15-0.3 and gas velocity of $2.5-5U_0/U_{mf}$ are determined at the constant temperature of $800^{\circ}C$ and fuel feeding rate of 1 kg/h. The silica sand particle having an average particle size of $287{\mu}m$ and olivine with an average particle size of $500{\mu}m$ were used as the bed material, respectively. The average product gas composition of samples is as follows; $H_2$ 3-4 vol.%, CO 15-16 vol.%, $CH_4$ 4 vol.% and $CO_2$ 18-19 vol.% with a lower heating value (LHV) of $1193-1301kcal/Nm^3$ and higher heating value (HHV) of $1262-1377kcal/Nm^3$. In addition, it was found that olivine reduced most of C2 components and increased $H_2$ content compared to silica sand, resulting in cracking reaction of tar. The non-condensable tar decreases by 72% ($1.24{\rightarrow}0.35g/Nm^3$) and the condensable tar decreases by 27% ($4.4{\rightarrow}3.2g/Nm^3$).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.629-636
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of mammo pad made of different kinds of materials on the reduced inconvenience and compression pains of patients to examine plausible interchangeability of existing pads made of single kind of material, and to examine the changes in pains of patients taking mammography and various factors therein. The high-hardness and highly-elastic mammo pressure pads, capable of replacing existing mammo pad of "H" company, were manufactured, and the display quality of mammography obtained from respective mammo pad were compared to each other to appraise the availability of manufactured mammo pad. In addition, 200 patients, who came to a general hospital in Seoul, were selected as subjects for the survey employing a questionnaire which was distributed to the subjects from December 2018 to March 2020 to identify the factors involved with the mammo pad of patients while taking mammography. The results of mammography obtained from both of the existing and newly manufactured mammo pad revealed appropriate display qualities fell within the range of clinical criteria. Besides, the factors associated with changing compression pains of patients taking mammography were analyzed wherefrom the general factors in the following order of age, height, and BMI index appeared, while the experiential and female factors appeared as in the following order: presence of menstruation, experience of child-birth, experience of breast feeding, menopause, grade of breast, shape of breast, and experience of mammography. In conclusion, the following factors comprising the age, experience of breast feeding, experience of mammography, and menopause rendered approximately 54% of power of explaining the degree of changing pains during mammography. Regarding the changes in compression pains while taking mammography, the increasing experience of mammography of patients rendered approximately 0.26 times more at the intermediate range of compression pains and approximately 0.14 times more at the range of severe pains.